Mehrotra says the company will expand its existing production units and set up additional categories. The tender coconut water plant is one such project. Mehrotra adds that the tender coconut plant could be set up in the existing Coca-Cola manufacturing unit at Plachimada in Palakkad. But other states are also trying to get this project as it would help coconut farmers there.

The company was actively considering the project in Kerala because of its superior quality coconuts. However, Mehrotra is reluctant to specify the total investment for the project.

Company officials say it had set up the Palakkad unit three years ago at the invitation of the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala. The current location of the present plant (Plachimada) was one of the sites suggested by the government.

“We got the necessary licence for it from the state government on 29 February 2000, within months of our dialogue with state authorities. We were very pleased with the speed at which the state administration granted us the licence. It only showed how keen the government was in our project,” the officials say.

“The government promised adequate water and power supply to our plant. But they did not fulfil the promises. We have deposited Rs 50 lakh for high-tension power line but it is yet to come. The company is running on generators. We have also asked for surface water, but nothing was done so far,” they add.